Norman E. Sheriff
Agency patch
Deputy U.S. Marshal

Norman E. Sheriff

Felonious
End of Watch September 24, 1971
Age 40
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 109 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Marshal Norman Sheriff was shot and killed in Washington, DC, while guarding a prisoner who was attending his father's funeral. The prisoner's brother had been able to disarm three of the marshals who were guarding the prisoner in the back of the Florida Avenue Baptist Church, at 623 Florida Avenue, NW. As the brother and prisoner attempted to escape from the church, they were confronted by Deputy Marshal Sheriff. The suspect opened fire on the marshal, killing him. The two carjacked a vehicle but were stopped two miles away after speeding through a radar trap and leading officers on a short chase. The officers who stopped them were unaware of the shooting at the time. The brother, a convicted felon, was convicted of Deputy Marshal Sheriff's murder and sentenced to life in prison. The prisoner was convicted of escape. Deputy Marshal Sheriff had served with the United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Sheriff gave the United States Department of Justice 5 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Sheriff.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 24, 1971
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Norman is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Norman was 40. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Norman had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, Norman among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy U.S. Marshal Norman E. Sheriff

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch September 24, 1971

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 7-W

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